Rossmoor Tennis Club

located in Walnut Creek, California

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Thu, Mar 28, 2024

RTC Logo 10 KB TransThe Rossmoor Golden Rain Foundation has issued Rules that apply to all Rossmoor Residents, Tennis Club Members, and all Guests.   GRF has delegated authority to the Rossmoor Tennis Club to make rules governing the Buckeye Complex under Tennis Rules R106.1 and R106.2.  Each Rule contains sections on Purpose and General Rules, which are identical but printed here only once to avoid duplication.   Following the General Rules are Specific rules for the Buckeye Courts.
 

Purpose:

The Rossmoor Tennis Club has been formed to promote tennis play and to organize tournaments and social activities for the club's members.   Club membership is an individual choice and is not a condition for use of the tennis facilities.   Due to the unique etiquette governing play, the Golden Rain Foundation Board of Directors has delegated to the Rossmoor Tennis Club the day-to-day responsibility to:

  • Determine conditions and/or restrictions for play
  • Schedule and organize matches and tournaments
  • Monitor and enforce player compliance with the Tennis Court Rules
  • Serve in an advisory capacity to staff in matters related to the courts

The following General Rules apply to the eight (8) courts at the Buckeye Tennis Complex.

General Rules:

  1. Courts are available for play during daylight hours.   During early morning and early evening hours especially, players should avoid loud noises and conversations that may disturb local residents.
  2. Courts are for the use of Rossmoor Residents and their Guests only.   A Resident Sponsor must accompany Guests the entire time of play.
  3. Resident and Guest players must sign the Register prior to play.   To occupy a court, enter the names of all players and the court clock time under the selected court as listed on the Court Register.
  4. Court usage -- see below
  5. A court is properly occupied -- see below
  6. Wait list -- see below.
  7. Bumping -- see below
  8. Smoking, food and drink, other than water or sport drink, are not permitted within the fenced court area.   No glass containers of any kind are permitted.
  9. Proper tennis attire must be worn on the courts.  Shirts must be worn at all times and tennis shoes must have non-marking soles.
  10. Observe accepted rules of tennis etiquette and courtesy.  (See The Code of Tennis below)   Please leave the court cleaner than you found it and return court-cleaning tools to their proper place after use.

Individual courts are closed for short periods during the week for cleaning.   Court cleaning has priority over play so please vacate the court immediately when the staff arrives.

Court Usage Rules

 

  • All players, groups must sign in on the court register to have standing
    • Two or more players must be present and signed in to hold a court
    • Non-residents must be accompanied on court by a resident
  • Court use is on a first come, first served basis … except that
    • Club sanctioned events take precedence. This includes Tournaments, Clinics, Matches, Drop-in Tennis and other events
    • Team matches will leave two courts open for general play, giving priority to the practice courts one and two. See examples below
  • During Prime Time -- sun up to 11 a.m.
    • Playing members take precedence over an individual ball machine user
    • No more than two (2) non-residents are allowed on court with a resident if courts are full and residents are waiting
  • A court is properly occupied by:
    • Two players playing singles for one hour
    • Three or more players for one hour and thirty minutes
    • An individual using the court two ball machine for one hour after 11:00 AM
    • Court time is based on the sign-in time
  • A court is considered available if:
    • The court is empty
    • Players did not sign in, or incorrectly, or with no court number
    • Playing time has expired
  • Players, out of courtesy, are encouraged to rotate off Court 2 to aid those wanting to use the ball machine when other courts are open

Court Wait List Rules

 

  • Wait List:
    • Players wait list by signing in when no court is available
    • A minimum of two players are required to have signed in
    • An individual may wait list for the ball machine on court 2 AFTER 11:00 AM
    • A player may not be both on court and wait listed
  • Wait listed players can “bump” only if there is no empty court:
    • Players cannot choose which court to bump.
    • Wait list players must find the earliest entry on the register where the court is now available (playing time expired, etc.)
    • Waiting players will, without entering the court, notify the on-court players that their court time has expired
    • Bumped players will finish the current point (not the current game) and immediately relinquish the court

 

  • Wait List:
    • Players wait list by signing in when no court is available
    • A minimum of two players are required to have signed in
    • An individual may wait list for the ball machine on court 2 AFTER 11:00 AM
    • A player may not be both on court and wait listed
  • Wait listed players can “bump” only if there is no empty court:
    • Players cannot choose which court to bump.
    • Wait list players must find the earliest entry on the register where the court is now available (playing time expired, etc.)
    • Waiting players will, without entering the court, notify the on-court players that their court time has expired
    • Bumped players will finish the current point (not the current game) and immediately relinquish the court

Ball Machine Rules

  1. You must be a member of Rossmoor Tennis Club
  2. An additional fee is required
  3. New Ball Machine Members are required to have a training on the operation of the Ball Machine with the RTC Facilities Manager prior to initial use
  4. Use of the Ball Machine is exclusively for RTC Members who have paid the additional Ball Machine fee and have received proper instruction on its use
  5. This eliminates use by non-paid RTC members, family members i.e., spouse, partner, grandchildren etc. or any other guests
  6. The lockbox combo is NOT to be shared. If someone asks for it, please refer them to the RTC Facilities Manager who maintains an authorized list of users
  7. Ball Machine is NOT to be used when any signs of dampness are on Court 2. Do not use any of the balls from the shed on damp court.
  8. Ball Machine hours are 9:00 am till dark
  9. Tennis games take precedence until 11:00 am
  10. Ball Machine Users may wait list for the Ball Machine on Court 2 after 11:00 am
  11. If Ball Machine fails to function properly, stop use immediately and report to the RTC Facilities Manager

Reservations and Sign-Ups:

Four circumstances exist where Reservations for future court use are permitted: (1) pro lessons, (2) RTC tournaments, (3) Club sanctioned teams and (4) other RTC events such as the annual meet against The Villages, San Jose.   Lessons can be reserved one week ahead by the professional.   RTC Tournaments or events are reserved when scheduled or established. These are Reservations and not mere Sign-Ups.

All other court assignments are Sign-Ups and must be made immediately before or at the time of play at the appropriate sign-in area at the Buckeye Tennis Complex.    Two or more players are required to be present to Sign-Up unless an individual is signing up for the ball machine.   Sign-Ups are for 90 minutes or less for doubles and 60 minutes or less for singles and 60 minutes for the ball machine.   Current announcements and sign-up sheets are posted near the tennis courts.

Buckeye Specific Rules:

1. Drop-in (Open) Tennis --- Rights and Restrictions:

Courts are open to Rossmoor Residents and their guests for Drop-in (Open) Tennis every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.   An Open Tennis Group is defined as 4 or more players.   Sequence of play is rotational.   Groups often consist of five or even six players.   In these cases at the end of each game, a new (waiting) player rotates into the server's ad court, the previous server goes out, and the remaining two players rotate clockwise for the upcoming game.   Games are played no-ad when people are waiting to facilitate rotation.

Drop-in (Open) Tennis Groups have priority on courts 3, 4, 5, and 6 at Buckeye on Drop-in (Open) Tennis days.   Private game players may sign in at the Buckeye tennis shack as usual, but must defer to Drop-in (Open) Tennis Groups on courts 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Drop-in (Open) Tennis Groups have priority on courts 1, 2, 7, 8 at Buckeye when:

  • Courts 3,4,5, and 6 are all in use by Drop-in (Open) Tennis Groups.
  • An Drop-in (Open)Tennis Group is present and available for play.
  • Note --- If an Drop-in (Open) Tennis Group is playing on courts 1,2,7, or 8 and a court becomes available on courts 3, 4, 5, or 6, then that Drop-in (Open) Tennis Group must relinquish court 1, 2, 7, or 8 if requested by a Private Game.

2. Wild Card Couples Competition --- Rights and Restrictions:

Courts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are reserved for Wild Card Couples Competition the first Saturday of every month from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM (or until competition is completed).

3. League Competition or Tournaments --- Rights and Restrictions:

Courts may be reserved in advance for League Competition or Tournaments by the Rossmoor Tennis Club Board of Directors. this is generally available shown on the Club Calendar on this site.

Captains should stagger play to ensure that two courts are left open for general play. As far as possible courts one and two should be avoided, in particular court 2 because of the ball machine. Some examples:

  • When fielding more than 4 lines of players and courts 1 and 2 are being used for clinic: the captain should start 4 lines and wait to play 2 more lines as courts 1 and 2 become available
  • When there is no active approved clinic, the captain can start up to 6 lines, leaving courts 1 and 2 open for general play
  • Similarly, when tournaments are scheduled on a Saturday we will make efforts to limit our court usage to 6 courts; keeping 2 courts open for Rossmoor residents. Prioritize leaving court 2 open for ball machine users

The Board understands this may take a little longer to finish matches but it keeps two courts open for people not on the teams and not participating in practice. [Discussed at meeting 15 Jan 2018 meeting, approved by the board 16 Nov 2021]

4. Ball Machine Protocol for Court 2

See Court Usage Rules above.

Times are M, W, F 9AM to 4PM.  Tu, Th 11AM to 4PM and Weekends 10AM to 4PM.  After 11AM weekdays and weekends ball machine use has priority on court 2 so an individual player has standing to properly occupy the court. Before 11AM a single ball machine user can be bumped if there are no empty courts.

Ball Machine users sign up at Kiosk before play and time is limited to 1 hour (exception for Ball Machine Clinic F from 11AM to 1PM). Teaching professionals and those authorized to train others* to use the ball machine may reserve court 2 in advance. Ball Machine users must be members of RTC and have paid the annual fee to use the Ball Machine.

Tournaments and team matches take precedence over casual use of Ball Machine.  Players, out of courtesy, are encouraged to give up Court 2 to those needing the ball machine when other courts are open.

*Current members available to train others on use of ball machine (as of 1/1/18) are Ron Wyman, Dave Blanchard, Roger Haas and Bernie Wolf.  Contact them through RTC Members Directory